PETER HAIN will today call on the Labour Party to hand decision-making back to its members to prevent Ministers from becoming a "distant governing elite" with no fresh ideas.

PETER HAIN will today call on the Labour Party to hand decision-making back to its members to prevent Ministers from becoming a "distant governing elite" with no fresh ideas.

Writing for the left-wing think tank Catalyst, the Welsh Secretary warns it is time to end "distrust" between members and party leaders or "risk stagnation" in power. His comments come after a series of high profile clashes between the leadership and grassroots over Iraq, top-up fees and Foundation Hospitals which culminated in a series of massive rebellions in parliament.

Current policy-making is handled by the National Policy Forum, with issues discussed on a three year basis and endorsed by party conference. But Mr Hain will today warn that rigid structure leaves the leadership divorced from the views of grassroots and unable to react swiftly to current events. In his paper, The Future Party, Mr Hain calls for a re-think of the split between policymakers and grassroots which was brought in when Labour was battling to modernise and return to power.

Mr Hain said although the leadership feared a return to the conference "showdowns" of the past it was time to trust the grassroots and ensure membership discussion on policy from an early stage.

Mr Hain said the fact that Foundation Hospitals had not been endorsed by the party prior to legislation "exacerbated the resulting controversy" while top-up fees also courted ill feeling because of the lack of consultation.